Final answer:
The deflection of planetary winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere is caused by the Coriolis effect, which is a significant force in the dynamics of large-scale atmospheric motions like wind patterns and the rotation of weather systems such as hurricanes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Planetary winds in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the right due to the Coriolis effect. This deflection is a result of Earth's rotation, much like the effects seen on a merry-go-round. For large-scale atmospheric motions, such as wind patterns, the Coriolis force becomes significant despite Earth's relatively small angular velocity. The counterclockwise rotation of hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere, for example, is a significant consequence of this force. In contrast, in the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis force leads to a deflection to the left and a clockwise rotation of weather systems such as tropical cyclones.
Without the Coriolis effect, air would simply flow directly into low-pressure zones without any deflection. However, because of the Coriolis force, wind flowing towards or away from high-pressure zones in the Northern Hemisphere is deflected to the right, causing the characteristic rotations of weather systems in different hemispheres.